Would you like to travel to the United States? It’s perfectly feasible, as long as you have the documents you need for your trip, which of course includes a valid passport, but that’s not all. In 2009, the U.S. authorities introduced the ESTA formality, a travel authorization application for nationals of countries that have signed up to the Visa Waiver Program. As a result, nationals no longer need to present a visa obtained from the US embassy in order to board a flight to the USA. All they need is their ticket, passport and ESTA authorization.
What are the requirements for traveling to the USA with ESTA?
The ESTA is an electronic travel authorization. It does not replace the USA visa. It only allows the traveler to board an approved airline or shipping company, provided the passport presented is an electronic or biometric passport. The ESTA USA authorizes the traveler to stay in the USA for a maximum of 90 days. Travel must be for business or pleasure. Travelers are prohibited from receiving any form of remuneration during their stay in the USA.
To apply for an ESTA, the traveler must be from one of the countries participating in the VWP, but not have dual Syrian, Sudanese, Iraqi or Iranian nationality. Similarly, a stay in one of these countries since March 2011 is an impediment to ESTA application (the same applies to Somalia, Libya and Yemen). The American authorities justify these exceptions by the fact that the traveler must not present any risk to American national security. It is for this very reason that the traveler is required to answer a number of questions about his or her health, criminal record and so on.
Please note that the ESTA document does not guarantee admission to the United States. In some cases, immigration authorities may refuse entry to the U.S. if documents are missing or if the traveler poses a threat to the country’s internal security.
How do I apply for an ESTA USA?
The ESTA application must be made online, rather than through the consular services of theAmerican embassy. The online application takes the form of a form completed with a questionnaire. The ESTA form can be obtained either from the official U.S. government website or from one of the private websites offering this service.
ESTA applications can be made individually or in groups. The advantage of a group application is that you pay the ESTA fees all at once. Whatever the type of application, the form to be completed remains the same. The first part of the ESTA application concerns the traveler, so all the information needed to identify him or her is requested. This includes surname, first name, date and place of birth, contact details, etc. This is followed by passport details, including passport number, date of issue and expiry date. The third part of the online form refers to travel to the USA. If it’s just a question of transit, no additional information is required. On the other hand, for a stay in the USA, you are asked to provide the address of your accommodation and the identity of your emergency contact.
Completing the form is not enough to validate your ESTA application. You must also answer the series of closed questions and proceed to payment.
How much does it cost to apply for ESTA?
Initially,ESTA authorization was free. Now, the basic cost is $14. $4 is charged for processing the application, and the remaining $10 is charged only if the application is accepted.
If you use a private service provider to help you with your project, the cost may vary according to the service offered.
How long does it take to receive a response to an ESTA application?
The ESTA application may be accepted or rejected. In general, you will receive a reply immediately.
Sometimes a request is put on hold. A pending request is nothing to worry about. This status only implies that the answer, whether positive or negative, will be given within 72 hours.
To find out the status of your ESTA (response to ESTA request or remaining validity), go to the official website and enter your name, passport number and ESTA number. This number is given to you when you validate your order. If you don’t have it, simply enter your personal details.
Please note that if your ESTA application is refused, it’s a good idea to check that no errors have been made before applying for a visa. If there is a typo on the form, but you are still eligible, it may be possible to reapply for ESTA.
How long is the ESTA authorization valid for?
Once ESTA authorization has been granted, it remains valid for two years. During this period, the traveler can make several visits to the United States, provided his or her passport is valid. If a passport expires during the validity of the ESTA document, the traveler must apply for a new authorization. The ESTA can only be used with the passport used for the initial application, and expiry is triggered by the passport’s expiry. A new passport systematically requires a new ESTA application.
